Fixture adjuster for outlet boxes



Aug. 19 1924. 1,505,301

H. R. THOMPSON FIXTURE ADJUSTER FOR OUTLET BOXES Filed Aug. 29 1919 O A if 8 6 n rr l Tim? 1? Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY R. THOMPSON, OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PASS & SEYMOUR, INC., 013 SOLVAY, NEW YORK, A GOR- PO'RA'IION OF NEW YORK.

FIXTURE ADJUSTER FOR OUTLET BOXES.

Application filed August 29, 1919. Serial No. 320,669.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY R. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Falls Church, in the county of Alexandria and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fixture Adjusters for Outlet Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fixture adjusters for outlet boxes, and the. primary object of the invention is to provide means for effecting easy and expeditious adjustment of the electric fixture with respect to the outer or open face of the outlet box thereby to properly position the fixture for the reception of the wall finishing or face plate which latter as is well known is placed over the wall or the like and provides a closure for the box.

The invention further aims to provide a device of the character mentioned which is of simple and economical construction, involving a minimum of parts and material so as to be capable of cheap production, assemblage and operation.

Briefly, the invention comprehends an adjusting device which involves a bridge member to which the fixture is secured, which spans the box and which has yieldable, bendable or adjustable feet or parts adjacent its ends that bear upon opposite walls of the box, the feet being adjusted to vary the relationship of the bridge to the box by the simple manipulation of a pair of screws.

In the drawings, wherein one manner of carrying the invention into practice is shown.

Figure 1, is a top plan view:

Figure 2, is a side elevation:

Figure 3, is a bottom plan view of the in vention detached from the box and fixture: and

Figure 4, is a fragmentary elevation of Figure 3.

In proceeding in accordance with the invention, a bridge member 1, is employed which is attached to the electric fixture E by means of set screws 3 or equivalent. The bridge member is shown as having openings 5 to accommodate the customary push buttons B, since in illustrating the invention, a push button type of switch has been employed. It will of course be understood that the invention is adaptable to all types of fixtures employed in wall outlet boxes and the like, and accordingly the exact form of the bridge must of necessity vary and is dependent upon the particular type of fixture to which the invention is applied.

The opposite ends of the bridge member are equipped with pairs of yieldable or bendable divergent supporting feet 4, the feet of each pair extending outwardly from the opposite side edges of the bridge and at their free end edges bear upon the edges of the end walls of the outlet box 0. Screws 3 project through slots 6 formed in the ends of the bridge and through lugs 7 carried by the box 0, so as to adjustably connect the bridge to the box.

By referring to Figure 4, it will be seen that the bridge is held by the feet in spaced relation to the box and since the bridge carries the electric fixture E it will be apparent that by turning the screws 8, inwardly the feet 4 will be spread causing the bridge and the attached fixture to move inwardly into the box until the outer face of the fixture is in proper position or alinement with the wall so as to receive the finishing plate, not shown. On the other hand, if the bridge and the fixture he too deeply within the box 0, then the screws are turned outwardly so as to enable the feet 3 to be contracted to thus cause the bridge and fixture to be positioned further from the box bottom, or outwardly of the box. If desired the bridge and feet may be made of spring metal so that the feet will automatically contract upon outward turning of the screws 3, otherwise, the feet can be simply bent by use of the fingers so as to lie at a greater angle to the box edge as may be desired or found necessary.

It will be understood that the brackets or clips C are in common usage and are employed to secure the outlet boxes to the stud ding or lathing, following which the aforementioned adjustment of the fixture in the box through the medium of the bridge and screws is effected.

The invention requires no tedious assemblage or manipulation of a multiplicity of parts but merely the turning of the two screws and simple bending of the feet 4, in event of an outward disposition of the fixture being desired and in case the bridge is made of metal other than of a spring nature. By purposely disposing the bridge so that the same will hold the attached fixture out of the box to an extent greater than desired, a nicety of adjustment or alinement of the bridge and fixture may be obtained by simply turning the screws 3 to move inwardly of the box as is believed manifest.

hat is claimed is:

1. In combination with an outlet box and a fixture therein, a bridge carrying said fixture and having a pair of diverging feet at each end thereof, the feet of each pair resting upon the respective edges of opposite walls of the box, and screws passed through the bridge and through parts of the box so as to spread the feet upon inward movement of the screws and to allow the feet to approach upon outward turning of the screws.

2. In combination with an outlet box and a fixture therein, a bridge carrying said fixture and having two relatively spaced and yieldable feet at each of its ends bearing upon the outer edges of opposite walls of the box, and means between the box and bridge to permit relative approaching and effect receding movement of said feet so as to vary the space between the brid e and box.

3. In combination with an outlet box and a fixture therein, a bridge secured to the fixture and having yieldable end portions carried thereby and which rest upon opposite points on the box, and screws projected through the bridge and into parts of the box whereby turning of the screws will vary the relation of the bridge and fixture relative to the box.

4. In combination with an outlet box and a fixture therein, a bridge secured to the fixture, spring means carried by the bridge adjacent its ends and extending outwardly therefrom and engaging the box, and means connected to the box and to the bridge to adjust the latter relative to the box.

5. In combination with an outlet box and a fixture therein, a bridge secured to the fixture, adjustable spacing means for the bridge carried by the latter and engaging the box,

and means between the bridge and box to.

efilect adjustment of said spacing means thereby to vary the space between the bridge and box.

6. A support for electric fixtures designed to be located in an outlet box, said support comprising a bridge for carrying the fixture, yieldable feet carried by the bridge at the ends thereof in position to engage the edges of opposing walls of the box, so as to enable the bridge to be held spaced from said wall edges, and means at the ends of the bridge adjacent the spacing means to clamp the bridge to the box against the action of the "feet so as to vary the space between the bridge and box.

7 In combination with an outlet box and a fixture therein, a bridge carrying said fixture and having yieldable feet at its ends bearing upon outer edges of opposite walls of the box and means to clamp the bridge toward the box and press the yielding feet against such edges of the box.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HENRY R. THOMPSON. 

